In the ranking of the most affected countries climate change over the past 30 years, led by almost all countries in the South, vizItaly is in sixteenth place out of a total of 174 countries. And if none of the first eleven countries are among the rich and industrialized, apart from Italy, countries like France (on the twelfth) and United States of America (on the eighteenth). And three other European countries are included in the top 30: la Spanish (24), those Portugal (27°) and German (29). That Climate Risk Index 2026reports on the level of impact of climate change in each country have just been presented in COP 30 in Belemin Brazil, from German watchshows that among the countries most affected, there are not only countries with less developed economies. In fact, looking at rankings that only consider extreme events in 2024, ifItaly is ranked 104th (a much better position than third place last year), That Spanish is the twentieth (last year it was in 8th place) and United States of America they are ranked twenty-first, slightly worse than in 2025. But in fact, about 40% of the entire world population (more than three billion people) currently lives in poor countries. eleven countries that they have been doing it for the last 30 years hardest hit from extreme climate events such as heat waves, storms and floods.
Germanwatch climate risk index: the most affected countries in 30 years
More than 832 thousand people have lost their lives worldwide over the past thirty years (1995 to 2024) due to more than 9,700 extreme weather eventswhich causes total economic loss 4.5 billion billion dollars (after deducting inflation). Dominica, Myanmar And Honduras they are the ones most affected by extreme weather phenomena in the last 30 years. Dominica, a very small Caribbean island nation, has been hit by several powerful hurricanes. In 2017, the only one Hurricane Maria The disaster caused losses of $1.8 billion, nearly three times the country’s gross domestic product. That is the most destructive seven tropical cyclones in the last 30 years. “Dominica tops our long-term index primarily because of its enormous economic damage relative to its GDP. This clearly underscores the scientifically confirmed trend that in a warmer world, tropical cyclones are becoming more intense and more destructive,” he explained. Lina Adilone of the report authors. Another example is Myanmarin second place. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis this disaster killed nearly 140,000 people and caused losses of $5.8 billion. Heavy rains and the resulting floods have the most destructive impact. However, in the top position there are also similar countriesIndia (9th place) and China (11), and others like Libya (4), Haiti (5) and Philippines (7th), facing its second storm in as many days, after Typhoon Kalmaegi which killed at least 224 people. However, if we only look at the events that will occur in 2024, then the first thing isCaribbean Islands St. Vincent and the Grenadines And Granadadestroyed by a Category 5 hurricane in the summer of 2024, child (affected by flooding for months), Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, Nepal, Philippines, Malawi, Myanmar And Vietnamese.
Even rich countries are suffering from climate change
This index shows that countries in the Southern region are very vulnerable and need support from these countries Rich countries. However, these countries are also increasingly impacted by the climate crisis. There Spanishin the ranking of events in 2024, it is in twentieth place and “has experienced the worst natural disaster in recent history” that we read in the report, considering the Valencia floods. Among the extreme events that are rememberedItalyhigh temperatures reached especially in July 2024 and severe drought in Sicily and Sardinia after 12 months of low rainfall and extreme heat that impacted agriculture And tourist.
His analysis: “Some countries do not have time to recover. COP must take action”
“Heat waves and storms are the biggest threat to human life extreme weather events”, he said Laura Schaferone of the report authors. “That storm has also caused the most economic damage, meanwhile flood responsible for the largest number of people affected.” Some countries ranked very high in the index primarily due to single but highly destructive weather events, while other countries were repeatedly hit by extreme weather. “Countries such as HaitiThat Philippines and itIndia – which is among the ten most affected countries in the last thirty years – faces special challenges. “They are hit by floods, heat waves or storms so frequently that the entire region can barely recover from the impact until the next event,” he explained. Vera Kunzelone of the index authors. “On the spot Police more funding is being negotiated to address loss and damage – he added – the focus is on countries like this. Without greater long-term support, including foradaptation to the climate crisiswill face insurmountable challenges.”
